Summary

Our Score

Going back to the single player game, Turn 10 has added a new killer feature - rewind. To be fair, Race Driver GRID first proved what a stroke of genius this can be, but that doesn't mean I'm not glad to see it in Forza. Basically, if you make a mistake, or if you do find yourself unfairly knocked off the track by the computer controlled cars, you don't have to restart the whole race. Simply press the rewind button and the action will jump back a bit, and if you haven't jumped back far enough, you can just press it again.
You might be thinking that rewind makes the game too easy, but it doesn't, it simply makes it less frustrating. Rather than throwing your controller at the floor because you've had to restart a nine lap race because of one mistake, you simply hit rewind and get it right next time. Plus, you find yourself using rewind less and less as you become more confident and hone your skills. The only downside to using rewind is that a flag is placed next to your entry on the online leaderboard showing that you used it.
Control is also greatly improved over Forza 2. While the last game was amazing fun when played with Microsoft's Steering Wheel, using the standard wireless controller just made it too easy to flick the car around the track. With Forza 3 though, there just seems to be far more subtlety to the control, allowing you to balance the car around a sweeping bend, or gently alter the line on a straight. The triggers seem to have a far more analogue feel to them too, giving you more delicate throttle response and less binary braking. On the whole I'd still recommend a steering wheel for any driving game, but Forza 3 is still a joy to play using the standard controller.
Ultimately, Turn 10 has created something wonderful with Forza Motorsport 3, something that deserves to be experienced by every Xbox 360 owner, and something that deserves all the accolades that it will no doubt receive. If you love cars, but don't have the space or the cash for a stable of exotic metal, Forza 3 will get you closer than ever to your dream.

Verdict

While PlayStation 3 devotees wait patiently for Gran Turismo 5 to finally appear, Microsoft has stolen the ball with Forza Motorsport 3. With sublime handling, beautiful modelling, a compelling career mode, and more polish than a crate of Mr Sheen, Forza Motorsport 3 is an object lesson in game design and presentation. Put simply, the best driving game ever!